‘Live and Learn’; Improving access to education for marginalized children

Impact Explanation:
Impact explanation: 50 children will have participated in a variety of learning activities within the project. By participation, we mean not only “attending” but actually full engagement with the activity: interacting, responding, reflecting, moving... in order to learn. This is ensured through the design of interactive and stimulating activities. Through their participation and engagement, the children gain self esteem as they learn new things and begin to realize that they are not only recipients, but they themselves have also something to offer. They learn to become team players and learn to question and challenge. They also acquire the basic tools of learning which will help them to become self learners including literacy, analytical thinking, etc . They become more knowledgeable and most importantly they become active citizens in their community.

Summary:
Objective : Provide learning spaces for children (educational opportunities for marginalized children ) :
The project will offer creative and enjoyable educational and arts based? ) activities to children to improve their general knowledge, numeracy, literacy, language skills and to develop their self confidence, critical thinking and communication skills as they develop a love for lifelong learning.
All activities are implemented in an interactive way that allows the child to explore and to experiment and to challenge his thinking. It is based on practical work, using a hands on approach which allows the child to question and understand, rather than memorize without thinking or understanding.
Courses consist of art based activities, discussions, projects, teamwork and hands-on tasks. All activities incorporate a values-based aspect (such as respect, responsibility, conflict resolution, teamwork, honesty, etc.)

Alwan wa Awtar's Members

Established in December 2005, Alwan wa Awtar (A&A) aims at promoting visual and performing arts and non-formal education to enhance the creativity and intellectual abilities of underprivileged children and youth. Using arts as a vehicle for social development, we envision a more knowledgeable, creative and cultured youth who are able to compete in today’s world. A&A programs help children access artistic and cultural activities, as well as interactive educational activities promoting love of learning and self development.
Our Goal:
To broaden the cultural dimension of youth through exposure to art, non-formal education, books and field trips. The intention is for children and youth to embark upon a learning journey that both inspires and informs them, providing them with new tools that enable them to later improve their living conditions, both socially and economically.
History:
For the past 9 years, A&A has worked with an educational model that focuses on a demand driven, inquiry based learning approach. The idea behind A&A came from the children of El Hadaba El Wosta themselves. Back in 2004, the founder of A&A, who was a volunteer in another local NGO in the neighborhood, discovered that the children of El Hadaba El Wosta had no access whatsoever to visual and/or performing arts. This came about by sheer coincidence when a group of French volunteers held a 10 day summer workshop for the children. Despite initial reluctance, the children started coming in great numbers. They did basic arts and crafts activities in addition to a number of different puzzles. Language was not a barrier, as art is a universal language and soon the French volunteers and the children were communicating with ease.
After the workshop was over, the founder held focus group discussions with the children curious to find out what had attracted them so much to the workshop. It was then that she learned that the children had no access to visual and performing arts. The children descr

Initial assessment and interview with the child, and his parents (or mother) before the beginning of the project, for child profiling (literacy levels, personal interests, strengths, needs, and preferences; special health or social conditions)

Exhibition/performances of their work: to develop their confidence and self esteem, it is important that the children show case their work. Moreover, it encourages team work as the children learn to work together in order to make the performance a su